Love triangle turns bloody at Santacruzan

Police are hunting down a jeepney driver for stabbing his former lover and her new partner during a Santacruzan procession in Sta. Ana, Manila last Sunday.

Suspect Mariano Salartin, of Barangay 697, Zone 99, District 6, was positively identified by witnesses as the one who attacked Elenita Conferido and her partner Rommel Claveria.

Claveria, is now confined at the Lourdes Hospital where he is under observation for six stab wounds in different parts of the body. Conferido suffered minor cuts in the forehead and body.

Police noted Salartin, said to be between 40 to 45 years old, managed to escape after the incident that took place at 6:45 p.m. Sunday in front of Claveria’s house at 2715 A. Bautista street, Punta, Sta. Ana.

Salartin had been the woman’s partner 10 years ago.

SPO2 Patrick de Leon said Claveria was standing in front of his house waiting for the "sagala" (procession) to pass by when the suspect arrived on board his passenger jeepney.

Witnenesses said the suspect, armed with a lead pipe and a pointed object alighted from the vehicle and confronted the victim. Following a heated argument, the suspect attacked the victim.

Police said Conferido came out and tried to take the weapon away from the suspect, but she was hit in the forehead, and was wounded in the right hand.

Responding lawmen recovered a pointed blunt object and a lead pipe from the crime scene. – Cecille Suerte Felipe